'American Idol' to end after next season

(Reuters) - The 15th season of “American Idol” starting in January will be the iconic singing competition’s last, Fox Television said on Monday.

The twelve American Idol XIV finalists attend Fox's American Idol XIV Finalist Party at The District Restaurant in Los Angeles, California March 11, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn

The popularity of the show, which launched the careers of stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and spawned shows such as CBS’s “Rock Star” and NBC’s “The Voice”, has declined in recent years.

The show was once a ratings powerhouse for Fox, watched by more than 30 million viewers at its peak, but its 2014 finale drew just 10.6 million viewers.